Allder School Berries

09/15/2021

Allder School Berries (dba The Veggie Wallah) will have plenty of Pawpaws, Bitter Melon and Ash Gourd (Winter Melon) at the Gilberts Corner Farmers Market this Saturday. Come by to get these unusual late summer fruits.

09/10/2021

Allder School Berries will have two great late summer fruits this Saturday: Pawpaws and Figs. Also available will be Roasted Hatch Chilis, young Okra, Spinach (Malabar) and Bitter Melons.

08/18/2021

Will the sun stay out? Will it rain and blow again? Will the Wednesday Market be open? Or closed? Who knows? Right now (2:15 pm, 8/18) , I've decided to go to the market and sell figs (lots of them), some shish*to peppers, other peppers, & watermelons. Will they sell? Will they get rained on? Or blown away? Who knows? I'm gonna throw the dice. See you later?

08/13/2021

Allder School Berries will have more delicious figs tomorrow, 8/14, at the Leesburg and Gilbert's Corner markets. Martha will sit in for me at Leesburg and Earl will be at his regular spot at Gilbert's Corner. Also, Sugar Baby watermelons and Fairytale eggplants at Leesburg.

08/11/2021

ASB will have figs at today's Farmers Market in Leesburg. These will be the sweet and delicious Celeste figs, the earliest of the season.

ASB will have figs at today's Farmers Market in Leesburg. These will be the sweet and delicious Celeste figs, the earliest of the season.

07/28/2021

6 Benefits of Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd) and Its Extract

A few readers have asked about the health benefits of bitter melon. Indeed, it has many benefits. Take a look at this article: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bitter-melon#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6

Bitter melon, or bitter gourd, is not only known for its sharp flavor and distinct appearance but may also have positive effects on health. Here are 6 benefits of bitter melon and its extract.

07/27/2021

The pix below show how Bitter Melons--an Asian food--are grown. The vines cover the structure and the bitter melons hang from the ceiling. Bitter melons will be at the Leesburg and Gilberts Corner farmers markets this Saturday.

07/16/2021

More big figs tomorrow, with some small, sweet, yellow Lattarula figs. Peppers are coming too, both Hatch and Shish*to.

07/09/2021

First FIGS of the year! Big early figs---Juicy and sweet. Don't miss out--come get them.
Also, blueberries are still here.

06/29/2021

Ditto last week's posting: sweet blackberries, great black raspberries and our popular blueberries. Last week we had a renvigorated market, with four new vendors, among them, Beechwood Orchard, Day Spring Farm and a food truck. We expect them back this week. WE hope to see many of you there.

06/23/2021

Recent rains have perked up berry production. Today 6/23 ASB will have lots of blueberries, black raspberries and blackberries. All are large and sweet. Hope to see many of you there.

06/16/2021

It pains me to show these pictures of my blueberry plants and the damage done by cicadas.

06/15/2021

Blueberries, black raspberries, red raspberries and blackberries will all be appearing at the Leesburg Wednesday Afternoon market tomorrow, 4 to 7 pm. Hope to see LOTS OF PEOPLE there. The Wednesday market always struggles to have enough customers. Come help us out!

06/11/2021

Allder School Berries will have some of our great blueberries at the Leesburg and Gilberts Corner farmers market tomorrow. Heavy rainfall today has prevented picking today. Hope to see you manana.

06/09/2021

Allder School Berries will bring blueberries to the market for the first time this year. They're sweet and big. Hope to see you at the market this afternoon from 4 to 7.

Allder School Berries will bring blueberries to the market for the first time this year. They're sweet and big. Hope to see you at the market this afternoon from 4 to 7.

05/14/2021

See the picture below of the bowl of figs from our 2020 harvest. It's a bad picture. Problem is I ate the figs before I took the shot. The bowl was close to full with canned figs, topped with whipped heavy cream. Delish! The second picture is looking down into the Mason jar of figs, to show you can can figs, just like peaches. I won't have any figs at the Leesburg market tomorrow morning but I will have plenty of figs. Grow --and can-- your own figs next summer.

05/07/2021

I usually don't count my chickens before they're hatched. Still, this year I've been saying how good the prospects are for lots of figs this summer. Figs are fickle. They can go south real fast. Now I'm thinking it's going to be a big blackberry year. I should know better but I'm all smiles when looking at the buds on my blackberry plants. I'm hyped. Take a look:

04/30/2021

Based on personal observations and comments from fellow fig growers, 2021 will be a very good year for figs. Fig trees braved the winter well and early figs (brebas) are already on the trees. If you like figs but don’t have a fig tree, come see us--Allder School Berries—at the Leesburg Saturday Morning Farmers Market (8 am to noon) or the Gilberts Corner Farmers Market (Saturday, 10 am to 3:30 pm). We have Brunswick, Brown Turkey, Ronde de Bordeaux, Celeste, Violette de Bordeaux and Adriatic fig varieties. All are well adapted to NoVa. We also have raspberry, blackberry and blueberry plants, plus we now have strawberry plants ready to go into the ground. Others are Pawpaw trees and Redbuds. Plant bushes and trees; Earth needs our help.

04/13/2021

Allder School Berries will return to the Leesburg Farmers Market this coming Saturday, April 17. While no berries area ready yet, we will have plenty of berry plants, fig trees, paw paw trees and new this year (for landscape beauty) Eastern Redbud trees. All are raised in Purcellville and fully adapted to NoVa. Check out the photos below:

04/03/2021

Allder School Berries will have lots of in-house raised berry plants for sale every day next week--Bluecrop and Duke blueberry plants, ready to put in the ground (not for containers). Also have black raspberry, red raspberry and blackberry plants available now. Several fig tree varieties are available now. DM me or call 540-454-6488. Paw paw and Red Bud trees ready soon.

03/24/2021

Aller School Berries now has a number of Black Raspberry and Blackberry plants for sale. They're ready to go into the ground. They have been outside for more than 2 weeks. They are completely local and perfectly adapted to this area. This is the best time of year to put them in the ground. Cost is $8 per plant.
DM me or call 540-454-6488

03/13/2021

I bought 2 new fig varieties over the winter: Adriatic JH and Champagne. Both are good for our climate. The Adriatic is showing off. It has figlets already. Take a look below.

03/12/2021

I uncovered my first fig tree today to get an early look at how it came through the relatively mild winter. I was pleased to see the same 3 healthy dark green trunks it took into its winter rest. No sign of cold damage. By mid-summer these 3 trunks will have 20-25 branches reaching up to 10 feet high and bearing ### figs. Obviously, I hope ### is a very high number. We'll see.

I uncovered my first fig tree today to get an early look at how it came through the relatively mild winter. I was pleased to see the same 3 healthy dark green trunks it took into its winter rest. No sign of cold damage. By mid-summer these 3 trunks will have 20-25 branches reaching up to 10 feet high and bearing ### figs. Obviously, I hope ### is a very high number. We'll see.

02/15/2021

I found green today! While checking some seedlings, I came across two pots of Celeste fig cuttings I made in November. I didn't figure they would grow but I didn't want to throw them. away So I just stuffed them into two pots. I pulled the Zip Lock bags off and--Voila!-- future fig trees.

02/12/2021

Allder School Berries (Warren, the owner) is getting anxious for the cold weather to go away and let Spring take over the landscape. As I get older I like winter less and less. Not that I'm ready for Florida, mind you, but I just really enjoy the anticipation of new life and growth in Spring. For much of the Winter I have been propagating fig trees, paw paw trees, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry plants, and other edible landscaping plants. I will have lots of these for the farmers markets this year. I don't want to see snow out my windows anymore. I want GREEN. (Also, I got my second Moderna shot yesterday).

10/02/2020

Allder School Berries will have lots of figs this Saturday at the Leesburg Farmers Market. They've been coming in dribs and drabs for the past few weeks but for reasons known only to Mother Nature, the trees are bearing very well now. Also, it looks like this will be the last day for Hatch peppers. They've produced a lot this year but all good things have to come to an end. The same is true of Pawpaws. I'll have a few other products like Shish*tos and Malabar Spinach. Hope to see you there.

09/01/2020

Allder School Berries will have plenty of delicious Celeste figs, lots of Hatch peppers, blackberries and other foods. Hope to see many of you tomorrow, 9/2, at the Leesburg Wednesday afternoon farmers market, 4 - 7 pm.

08/18/2020

Allder School Berries is back with some big sweet blackberries and delicious Celeste figs. Hope to see many of you tomorrow at the Leesburg Wednesday afternoon farmers market, 4 - 7 pm.

07/14/2020

Allder School Berries owner, Warren Howell, regrets to inform good friends and loyal customers that the 2020 blueberry season is over. Hoards of birds--from sparrows to crows--have been attacking and eating the farm's blueberries for the past week. It appears the birds' normal food sources--mulberries, wild cherries and others--have largely failed this summer. The farm has long relied on its many mulberry trees as the first line of defense against birds. Its other defense is a distress call and attack call device that keeps birds at bay.

The most effective bird defense is netting surrounding all sides of the field, plus an impenetrable roof of netting. This solution is expensive and somewhat difficult to maintain. So, barring some drastic move by Mother Nature to restore a natural bird food source, this year is for the birds.

06/14/2020

Home made cheesecake topped with home grown blueberries. Great.

06/10/2020

Today, June 10, Allder School Berries will have both organic strawberries and blueberries for sale..Quantities are limited so please come early (before rain?). Hope to see you there.

04/17/2020

A very unusual development, figlets setting on fig trees already. Mild winter = early growth. These could become breva figs (mid-summer, big fruit). Will this be a good fig year???

04/16/2020

Looking past the coronavirus, now is the time to plant for the long run. Allder School Berries has many blueberry plants and fig trees for sale. Blueberry plants are $12, $15 and $16 while fig tree prices start at $15 and go to $80. Both blueberry plants and fig trees produced wonderful fruits that taste great and are good for you. Blueberries will grow anywhere in Loudoun and fig trees do especially well in eastern Loudoun and some of my varieties do well even in colder parts of the county. Also, let's not forget pawpaw trees, native to the East Coast. These fruits are getting more and more popular--even trendy. 540-454-6488.

04/10/2020

I'm still considering different options for selling my berries and veggies this year. Among them a county-based online system and another online system sponsored by our regular farmers market system, LVHMC. I won't be able to provide home delivery but delivery to a single place (like the Virginia Village parking lot) is easy. I don't anticipate having trouble selling my products but the total work involved in doing that might be much more than just going to Leesburg on Saturday morning or Wednesday afternoon. I will stay in touch with everyone about how things will work out.

I'm still looking for more email addresses. Send to [email protected].

04/01/2020

The rules governing the Leesburg Saturday markets and other LVHMC farmers markets are unclear at this time in view of the coronavirus restrictions we all have to follow in Virginia. As a result I am considering making some big changes to how Allder School Berries sells its products. My basic purpose is to make it equally safe as the social distancing rules but easier for my patrons and me. As of now I haven't decided exactly how I will sell my foods. If you are interested in following Allder School Berries this coming summer, please send your email address (if you wish) to [email protected]. I will add it to my list of patrons and keep in touch with you as the first weekend in May approaches. I will not use this address list for any purpose other than keeping you informed of where and how I will be selling. Thank you much, and remeber to wash your hands. Warren Howell